HomeAway.co.uk, the home of Holiday-Rentals®, is part of the HomeAway family. As the world leader in holiday rentals, we offer the largest selection of properties for any travel occasion and every budget. We’re committed to helping families and friends find the perfect holiday rental to create unforgettable travel experiences together.

Off-the-beaten-track hideaways on HomeAway.co.uk

18/04/2012 - Discover the road less travelled and avoid tourist crowds on your next getaway with an off-the-beaten-track holiday in Europe, the Middle East, North or South America. For keen travellers around the world, HomeAway.co.uk, the UK’s number one holiday rentals website, now offers a wealth of private accommodation in lesser-explored destinations such as Romania, Oman, Venezuela or Alaska. There are even remote lodges in Scotland and secluded houses by the fjords in Norway!

If you’re looking to truly discover a place, holiday rentals are the perfect option as staying in a real ‘home’ provides a much more authentic experience. Many properties are set in local neighbourhoods or areas, rather than in the middle of tourist haunts. HomeAway.co.uk has selected some unique hidden gems, including a traditional house in Romania where the Hairy Bikers filmed their latest TV show, a log cabin by the ocean in Alaska and a secluded, authentic Arabic house in Oman.

So if you’re looking for more than just sun, sea and sand on your next holiday, choose one of the properties below for a truly authentic travel experience.

Traditional wooden house in Maramures 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4. From £330 per property per week

Palaga House is an impressive, traditional wooden house which was rebuilt in spacious grounds at an altitude of 700m above sea level. The ground floor has two living rooms, a kitchen, hallway and a guest bathroom. Upstairs there is a small hallway, two large bedrooms and a bathroom. The house is decorated with high quality paintings and hunting trophies and has solid oak flooring, two traditional brick ovens and an original restored cast-iron stove.

Authentic traditional Arabic house close to the beach 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6. From £700 per property per week

This is a beautiful coastal beach house in Oman literally miles from anywhere, but still close to several magnificent natural attractions including Wadi Shab, one of the world’s largest caves and the stunning Bimmah sinkhole. The house has an open-plan dining room with fully equipped kitchen, three bedrooms, a traditional Arabic sitting room and a garden with barbecue. You will be staying in one of the most unchanged landscapes in the world. Nearby attractions include kayaking and hill walking, turtle viewing and bird watching.

Picturesque jungle lodge with pool, close to the beach 5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 13. £99 per person per week

The small jungle lodge El Paraiso is situated on an idyllic river surrounded by bamboo groves, in a beautiful forest landscape, not far from the Caribbean beach of Playa Grande. There is a large covered terrace providing ample shade with rocking chairs and hammocks, as well as a lovely pool with waterfall. The property is situated on an idyllic river in Puerto Columbia, 15 minutes walk from the beach and about 50 km away from Maracay National Park and near the coast. Also nearby there is Chuao, which is only accessible by sea.

The log cabin is on Sitka Island, 10 minutes from the town, overlooking the Pacific Ocean with magnificent unobstructed wilderness views. Watch the sea otters, eagles, sea lions, seals and whales from the deck as the surf rolls in and the sun sets over Mt Edgecumbe. Organise a kayak trip, fishing, bird watching or a sightseeing expedition, with pick up from your own large dock. Inside, the cabin is brand new, tastefully decorated in Alaskan style, with a large fully equipped kitchen, high picture windows, one double bed and one bathroom.

Secluded house with fjords views in Sognefjord 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4. From £316 per property per week

This is a beautiful house with hardly any neighbours located by Nærøyfjord in Sognefjord, one of the world’s most beautiful and dramatic fjords. Only a few hundred meters away from the house you will experience majestic mountains and hear the sounds of roaring waterfalls! During the winter they are frozen and you can listen to the echo of your own voice.

Unique, rural cottage on the Isle of Skye 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6. From £700 per property per week

Alavik Lodge is a unique holiday home located in one of the finest positions on the idyllic Isle of Skye. The property has a spacious kitchen, double bedroom, family bathroom and twin bedroom with en-suite shower room. The large main living area is open plan and has floor to ceiling windows offering spectacular scenery and views. The room features comfortable seating, a wood burning stove, high ceilings and sliding glass doors to the side lead to the garden, sun terrace and a wrap-around veranda.